West College Scotland in partnership with ESP Scotland and Institute of Engineering and Technology were delighted to host one of 50 regional First Lego League Challenge tournaments currently taking place around the UK and Ireland.
10 local primary & secondary schools joined at our Clydebank campus on Monday 10th December to fiercely compete for a place in the UK final. Entering its 30th season, First Lego League 2018/19 saw the teams going “Into Orbit” where they were required to solve a real-world problem. The young people were also required to build, test, and program an autonomous robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS technology to solve a set of missions in the Robot Game.
Each of the teams competing on the day were also required to make a Project Presentation, be prepared to be quizzed on their Core Values and explain the thinking behind their Robot Design to a panel of judges including support from Developing the Young Workforce West region team.
The teams competing came from Calderwood Primary, St Rose of Lima Primary, Sunnyside Primary, Hyndland Secondary, Eastwood High, St Monica's Milton Primary School, High School of Glasgow, Dunard Primary, Williamwood High and Hermitage Academy.
The “Dunard Discoveries” from Dunard Primary scooped the top prize and they will progress to the UK final in Bristol early next year. Accolades were also awarded to each of the competition sub-sections with High School of Glasgow coming out on top for Robot Design, Williamwood High taking the prize for Robot Performance, St Rose of Lima Primary took the top spot for Core Values, Sunnyside Primary won for Project Presentation and Calderwood Primary picked up the Judges Award.
Stuart Cheyne, Principal teacher at Dunard Primary School said "Thank you to West College Scotland for hosting the First Lego League competition, a fantastic event which engages young minds with STEM opportunities. Being crowned the overall winner is a huge achievement and the pupils are thrilled to have reached the finals."
Alistair Rodgers, Head of Engineering at West College Scotland said, “We were delighted to host the First Lego League Event at the Clydebank Campus in partnership with ESP Scotland and IET. The enthusiasm that was displayed throughout the day by all of the Schools was fantastic to see and rewarding for the staff and volunteers involved in making the day a great success”.
He continued, “The effort that had been put in to the design and planning of the Lego Robots by the teams to complete the ‘Into Orbit Missions’ was exceptional which provided further opportunity to promote STEM careers within both Primary and Secondary Schools; special mention should be given to the Core Values that each of the Schools demonstrated throughout the day. We wish the overall winners of the event Dunard Primary School every success as they progress to the UK final which is taking place in Bristol early next year.”
